Where does “well” come from?
well (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic wallijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.
well (Old English): well
Ancestry of “well”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | wallijǭ | well; swirl; wave |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-European | wēlH- | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | welH- | to turn, to wind |